the floor-to-ceiling windows

rested her cheek against Fletcher's bare, muscular chest. She listened to the steady, rhyt

ne buzzed on

r father, Leland, sending more passive-aggressive articles about corporate merger

r. His eyes were closed, his breathing slow and ev

rried," Elodi

ire body went rigid. The muscles in his

gaze to her. His dark eyes were searching, scanning her face for the punchline. H

he understood it. She thought he was ter

ghtstand and pulled open the top drawer. She took out a

shoved the folde

ic. "It's a prenup. A complete separation of assets. If you sign this, my father can'

eets fell away from his waist.

cover read: Pre-Nuptial Agreem

d violently in his skull. He saw the document for exactly what he believed it was: a leash.

d turned

it the wall and clattered onto the expensive P

board. Her thumb instinctively sought her wrist, grinding

shirt from the floor and shoved his arms into the sleeves.

ie's voice cracked. "I'

buttoning his shirt. His lips cur

ean protect yourself. From th

eant!" Elodie cried

cument at me and buy a husband? I'm not one of your country club lapdogs, Elodie. My company might be

They tracked hot and fast down her chee

. He didn't look at her tears. I

any to run," h

rate-owned McCarthy penthouse slammed shut. Her father held the deed to this place

t the scattered legal papers on the rug. A sob

e silver Aston Martin was parke

erile text: Come down. I'm tak

ack sunglasses to hide her swollen, red eyes. She ope

ght ahead through the windshield. His hands gripped the steer

d took an hour. They di

o the massive wrought-iron

didn't turn off the engine. He

bag," he said. Hi

hed the door open, and stepped out into the humid evening air. She slammed the

gripped the steering wheel. He squeezed the leather until his knuckles turned white and his join